Article releasing mechanism for vending machines



p 11, 1956 E. c. JOHNSON 2,762,524

ARTICLE RELEASING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed Jan. 2. 1952 4 Shets-Sheet 1 IVENTOR. E fime/ 6, J0fi/750/7 ATTORN Sept. 11, 1956 E. c. JOHNSON ARTICLE RELEASING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES 2, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan INVENTOR.

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United States PatentO RELEASING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Elmer C. Johnson, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to The Vendo Company, Kansas "City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application January 2, 1952, Serial No. 264,405

9 Claims. (Cl. 221-67) In vending machines of the kind disclosed in the aforei said patent and in my co-pending applications, it is possible to surreptitiously reach into the cabinet of the machine through the article-discharge opening thereof, manipulate the articles of the stacks and to remove an article without the necessity of inserting a coin as is contemplated by the normal operation of the machine.

It is therefore, one of the most important objects of the present invention to provide means in staggered stack vending machines for preventing malicious robbing and removal of the contents thereof inabsence of insertion of a coin in the proper manner.

Another important object hereof is to provide in a vending machine, structure underlying the stacks of articles and movable to release one article at a time as in .the above mentioned patent and co-pending applications, together with apparatus operating in conjunction therewith to receive the released article and holding the same against discharge to the customer until the next cycle of operation, thereby presenting a block to access and thereby manipulation of the stacks themselves for the purpose of stealing the contents by those who may be so inclined. it is a further important object of this invention to provide vending mechanism for articles of merchandise arranged in a pair of staggered stacks that includes a device having a pair of parallel members, the device being swingable to the end that the two members alternately discharge or release the articles which they support.

Another object hereof is to provide improved, actuating means which, in all forms of the present invention, contemplates restraining of the primary article-supporting roller to a rectilinear path of reciprocation as in the prior inven ions above identified, the anti-theft means in each case being swingable along an arcuate path of travel in timed relationship to the reciprocable movement of the said primary roller.

A still further object hereof is to provide various forms of actuation including swinging of the anti-theft means as a function of the reciprocation of the primary roller; swinging of the anti-theft means in response to the weight of an article to be vended; and swinging of the antitheft means by a direct connection with a prime mover,

the reciprocation of the primary roller being in response to the swinging movement of the anti-theft means.

An additional object hereof is to provide an improvement upon the structure for reciprocating the primary 2,762,524 Patented Sept. 11, 1956 roller and including a swingable arm having a roller connection not only with the prime mover but with the main reciprocating support for the staggered stacks of merchandise.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, front elevational View of article-dispensing apparatus such as forms the subject matter of my said application Serial No. 58,866, having improved article-releasing mechanism embodying one form of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional View taken on line IIII of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line IVIV of Fig. 5 and illustrating a modified form of the instant invention.

Fig. 5 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken on line V--V of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating the operation of the modification shown in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive,

Fig. 7 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken on line VIIVII of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken on line VIII-VIII of Fig. 9, showing a third modification of l the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken on line IX-IX of Fig. 8

Fig. 10 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken on line XX of Fig. 8, parts being broken away for clearness.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary, detailed, cross-sectional View taken on line XI-XI of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line XII-XII of Fig. 8 excepting only that in Fig. 12, the primary roller for supporting the staggered stacks is at one end of its path of travel rather than midway between the ends thereof as shown in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 12 except that the said primary roller is at the opposite end of its path of travel.

As will hereinafter appear, in all three forms of my present invention, the articles to be dispensed are stored within a suitable cabinet in pairs of stacks, the articles of one stack being offset or staggered with respect to its corresponding adjacent stack. The three forms of the invention have as a common feature, additionally the provision of a primary roller underlying the staggered stacks and confined to rectilinear, horizontal reciprocation. When the primary roller is beneath one of the stacks, the lowermost article of the latter rests upon the roller and thus both stacks are restrained against downward movement.

The means for guiding and reciprocating the primary roller of the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, and the form shown by Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, are identical with that information the subject matter of my said copending application Serial No. 5 8,866, 'whereas, the actuating and guiding means for the primary roller of the form shown in Figs. 8 to 13 inclusive, is substantially different.

In all cases the structural features differ appreciably from the above mentioned patent however, except only so far as the broad principles are concerned. Such general preface in mind, reference may be had to the form illustrated by Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.

A suitable cabinet broadly designated by the numeral 14 is shown only in part in Fig. 1 of the drawings and includes one or more vertical compartments 16 capable of supporting and guiding a pair of staggered stacks 18 and 20 of vendable merchandise which, for purposes of illustration, comprise elongated, cylindrical articles 22.

. cation.

Blocks 32 and 34 are mounted on opposite ends of the shaft 26 and upon horizontal, parallel compound screws 36 and 38 respectively. Screws 36 and 33 are rotated simultaneously to reciprocate the blocks 32 and 34 and accordingly the roller 24, by means of a prime mover 40 and a coupling chain or the like 42. Thus, when roller 24 is moved to the left from the position shown in Fig. l of the drawings, and the full line position shown in Fig. 3 to the dotted line position of Fig. 3, article 22a will gravitate as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. Article 22a will not however, be dispensed from the machine by such movement of the roller 24 because of the provision of apparatus to receive the same and operating as an anti-theft means as above indicated. Such apparatus includes an elongated, horizontal rod 44 that moves into the path of travel of the article 2211 as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. The rod 44 is joined to the lowermost ends of a pair of arms 46 and 48 swingably joined to and depending from the shaft 26.

End walls 50 and 52 of the cabinet 14 within which slots 28 and 30 respectively are formed, are provided with clearance openings 54 and 56 respectively for free swinging movement of the rod 44. Walls 50 and 52 are likewise provided with outwardly extending pins 58 and 60 respectively immediately above the openings 54 and 56 thereof that pass through corresponding slots in the arms 46 and 48, slot 62 in arm 48 being illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates by dotted lines an article 22b resting on the rod 44 and previously discharged from the stack 18. Accordingly, when prime mover 40 is energized by insertion of a suitable coin in the machine and through themedium of coincontrol mechanism (not shown) to move the roller 24 from the full line position of Fig. 3 to the dotted line position of this figure as above indicated, arms 46 and 48 will swing on their pivot pins 58 andrespectively to move the rod 44 from beneath the I, article 22b to the opposite end of the openings 54 and of article 22:: is limited by the rod 44. During this cycle of operation, article 22c of stack 18, gravitates to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3 resting upon roller 24.

It can now well be appreciated that during the next cycle of operation, roller 24 will be returned to the full line position shown in Fig. 3, the article; 22a will be discharged to the guide 64, article 220 will gravitate until restrained by rod 44, and article 22d of stack 20 will move into engagement with roller 24.

The important feature of this invention, namely,,that of providing an anti-theft means, can now be well understood. A thief reaching into the machine through the outlet opening of cabinet 14 and attempting to manipulate the articles 22 within chamber 16 is hampered against removal of an article 22 by virtue of an article such as 22b being in a blocking position. In other words, even if stack 18 could be reached to move the same upwardly and thus cause article 22a to roll downwardly on roller 24, neither the article 22a nor the article22b could be removed because of the presence of rod 44. However, article 22b must be moved upwardly before stacks 18 and 20 can be shifted and such action cannot aid in the stealing of articles for the reason that rod 44 cannot be moved out of the way until the screws 36 and 38 are rotated.

The embodiment depicted by Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive, is essentially the same as just above described so far as roller is concerned, its meansof rectilinear reciprocation and guiding means therefor, and need not be repeated. Likewise, arms 102 depending from shaft 104 for roller 100 and swingably secured thereto, correspond to the arms 46 and 48 and are rigidly interconnected by a rod 106 in the same manner as the joinder of rod 44 between arms 46 and 48. The arms 102 however, are not provided with slots as at 62 nor with pivot pins 58 and 60, but the rod 106 is limited in its extent of swinging movement by openings 108 that correspond with openings 54 and 56.

There is provided two pairs of staggered stacks of articles 110 in this embodiment, one pair being designated by the numerals 112 and 114 and the other pair of stacks being designated by the numerals 116 and 118. The articles 110 are vended from stacks 112 and 114 in precisely the same manner as provided for by co-pending application Serial No. 58,866, or precisely as in the modification of Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive if the arms 46 and 48 and rod 44 were eliminated. The articles 110 from the stacks 116 and 118 are however, retarded by a V-shaped member broadly designated by the numeral 120, and looped over the rod 106 immediately below the stacks 116 and 118. The member 120 is provided with a pair of legs 122 and 124 and extends only substantially onehalf the length of the rod 106.

Assuming the roller 100 to be in the position illus trated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and an article 110a previously released from stack 118 resting on the leg 124, an initial movement of roller 100 to the position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, swings the arms 102 and thereby tips the member 120 to permit article 110a to gravitate in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 6 to a point of customer delivery.

A machine embodying the principles of Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive, is synchronized so that roller 100 comes to rest in the position shown in Fig. 6, midway between the extremities of its path of travel. Thus, in this first cycle, the articles of stacks 116 and 118 gravitate only slightly as shown in Fig. 6 with article 11% of stack 116 still resting on the roller 100 and thereby restraining both stacks 116and 118 against further downward movement. The stacks 112 and 114 will likewise move downwardly but a short distance and the lowermost article 110 of stack 112 will remain resting on the roller 100.

During the next cycle, roller 100 will move to the right-hand end of its path of travel, viewing Fig. 6, whereupon the lowermost article 110 of stack 112 will be released and discharged to the customer. The stacks 112 and 114 will both shift downwardly and the lowermost article 110 of stack 114 will come to rest on roller 100. At the same time the article 1101) will gravitate from the roller 100, strike the leg 122 and be restrained against further downward movement by virtue of rod 106 moving from the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 to the opposite end of the openings 108. Further, during this second cycle, article 1100 of, stack118, will come to rest upon the roller 100. 7

During the third cycle of operation, the roller 100 will move to the left, viewing Figs. 5 and 6, and come to rest midway between the ends of its path of travel as shown in Fig. 6. Such movement swings the arms 102 and tilts the leg 122, whereby to release the article 11% held thereby for discharge to the customer.

During this third cycle of operation, no atricle is released from any of the four stacks 112, 114, 116 and 118, the articles 110 of these stacks merely shifting downwardly a short distance.

v Finally, in the fourth cycle of operation, the roller 100 moves to the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawi'ngs, and an article is dispensed to the customer from the stack 114. It is thus seen that the articles 110 are discharged to the customer alternately first from stacks 116 and 118, and thence from stacks 112 and 114. It is further seen that articles 110 are discharged to the customer from the stacks 112 and 114 when the roller 100 is at the ends of its path of travel and that articles 110 are discharged from the stacks 116 and 118 when the roller 100 comes to rest midway between the ends of its path of travel.

The member 120 prevents unauthorized stealing of articles from stacks 116 and 118 in the same manner as the rod 44 functions in the modification of Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. It is contemplated that the stacks 112 and 114 be disposed at the rear of the machine out of the reach of a thief extending his hand and arm into the cabinet through the outlet opening into which the articles are vended.

The modification illustrated in Figs. 8 to 13 inclusive, differs substantially from the two forms just above described in that compound screws 36 and 38 are eliminated, but corresponds closely in the provision of antitheft means in the nature of a swingable rod 200 corresponding to rods 44 and 106. While a plurality of staggered stacks of articles 202 is shown in Fig. 10 and synchronized for successive vending first from one vertical chute or compartment 204 corresponding to compartment 16, the form and operation of each assembly is the same and only one need be described. Fig. 10 does however, illustrate how a plurality of side-by-side identical assemblies may be provided in both of the modifications hereinabove set forth.

Shaft 206 of primary rotatable roller 208, in underlying engagement with the stacks of articles 202, is provided with small rollers 210 and 212 on the ends thereof freely rotatable within channel members 214 and 216 respectively. Channel members 214 and 216 are pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof by pins 218 and 220 respectively. This construction differs from the pin means 58 and 60 of Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, in that slots 62 are not provided in the channel members 214 and 216.

As is most clear in Figs. 10, 12 and 13, the opposed Walls of the cabinet having guide slots 222 for the roller 208, are likewise provided with arcuate slots 224 for the swingable rod 200 that interconnects the channel members 214 and 216. The channel member 216 is provided with an outwardly facing channel 226 receiving a roller 228 that is in turn mounted on a crank 230 secured to the drive shaft of a prime mover 231. Roller 208 has guide means 232 on the shaft 206 thereof that slide along the slots 222 as roller 208 is reciprocated by prime mover 231. Shaft 206 is likewise provided with a pair of supporting and guiding discs 234 that roll along horizontal tracks 236 and with a pair of sprocket wheels 238 that roll along racks 240.

It is seen that during reciprocation of the roller 208 by energization of prime mover 231, articles 202 are discharged first from the roller 208 and thence from the rod 200 in precisely the same manner as in the modification of Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.

In the event that it may be desired to eliminate the rod 200, channel member 214, together with roller 210 and pivot means 218, may also be omitted since the roller 208 is guided and held against buckling by the sprocket wheels 238, and their corresponding racks 240. In lieu of the rod 200, anti-theft provisions may be included by so synchronizing the machine to cause the roller 208 to always come to rest midway between the ends of its path of travel with the channel member 216 substantially vertical as shown in one position of Fig. 10. In such operation, crank 230 would rotate 180 degrees,

6 thereby shifting the roller 208 in one direction to discharge an article 202 and thence back to the mid-position.

On the next cycle, the crank 230 would continue to rotate the remaining degrees to shift the roller 208 to the opposite end of its path of travel and back to the center position. With roller 208 always coming to a standstill position midway between the ends of its path of travel, the two stacks could not be manipulated in such manner as to permit stealing of the articles 202.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vending machine, means for supporting and guiding a pair of stacks of articles in overlapping relationship; movable structure underlying the articles and engageable with one stack at a time to restrain both stacks against downward movement; apparatus depending from said structure for movement therewith and swingably carried thereby for receiving said articles from the structure as the same are released singly upon movement of said structure; and means holding said apparatus against swinging movement relative to the structure while the latter is at each endof its pathof travel whereby articles are released singly from the apparatus only during movement of said structure.

2. In a vending machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said structure includes a member recipnocable rectilinearly and alternately from a position underlying one stack to a position underlying the other stack.

3. In a vending machine, means for supporting and guiding a pair of stacks of articles in overlapping relationship; movable structure underlying the articles and engageable with one stack at a time to restrain both stacks against downward movement; apparatus depending from said structure for movement therewith for receiving said articles from the structure as the same are released singly upon movement of said structure; means mounting said apparatus on the structure for free swinging movement relative thereto; and means holding said apparatus against swinging movement relative to the structure While the latter is at each end of its path of travel whereby articles are released singly from the apparatus only during movement of said structure.

4. In a vending machine, means for supporting and guiding a pair of stacks of articles in overlapping relationship; movable structure underlying the articles and engageable with one stack at a time to restrain both stacks against downward movement; apparatus depending from said structure for movement therewith and swingably carried thereby for receiving said articles from the structure as the same are released singly upon movement of said structure; and a pair of opposed stop means within the path of swinging movement of said apparatus for holding said apparatus against swinging movement relative to the structure while the latter is at each end of its path of travel whereby articles are released singly from the apparatus only during movement of said structure.

5. In a vending machine, means for supporting and guiding a pair of stacks of articles in overlapping rela tionship; movable structure underlying the articles and engageable with one stack at a time to restrain both stacks against downward movement; apparatus depending from said structure for movement therewith for receiving said articles from the structure as the same are released singly upon movement of said structure; means mounting said apparatus on the structure for free swinging movement relative thereto; and a pair of opposed stop means. within the path of swinging movement of said apparatus. for holding said apparatus against swinging movement. relative to the structure while the latter is at each end. of its path of travel whereby articles are released singly from the apparatus only during movement of said struc-- ture.

6. In a vending machine, means for supporting and; guiding a pair of stacks !of articles in overlapping relationship; movable structure underlying the articles and engageable with one stack at a time to restrain both Stacks againstidownward movement; apparatus depending from said structure for movement therewith for rece1v-' ing said articles from the structure as the same are released singly upon movement of said structure, said apparatus'including support. means mounted on said structure for free swinging movement relative thereto, and an article-receiving element rigidly secured 'to the support means for tilting movement each time the apparatus swings; and means holding said apparatus against swinging movement relative to. the. structure while the latter is at each end of itspath of travel" whereby articles are releasedsingly from the apparatus only during movement of said structure.

7. In a vending machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a pair of opposed stops within the path of swinging movement of said apparatus, the distance between the stops being less than the extent lOfIilOVfilTlBHl. of said structure.

8; In the invention as set forth in claim 6 wherein said element is provided with a pair of opposed surfaces for alternately receiving articles from the structure.

9. In a vending machine, means for supporting and guiding two pairs of stacks of articles with the articles of each pair of stacks disposed in overlapping relationship; movable structure common to the stacks, underlying the articles and simultaneously engageable with one stack of, each pair for restraining: all four stacksagainst downward movement;- apparatus depending from said structure beneath one pair of stacks for'receiving said articles from the said one pair of stacks as the articles are released singly from each of said pairs of stacks upon movement of said structure; and means holding said apparatus against swinging movement .relative to the structure while the latter is at each end of its path of travel whereby articles are released singly from the apparatus onlyduring movement of said structure, said apparatus being provided with means tiltable. to a position releasing an article supported thereby, when the structure is intermediate the ends of its path of travel whereby articles arevended alternately first from one pair of stacks and thenfrom the other pair of stacks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES/PATENTS 1,711,02l Hoopes Apr. 30, 1929 2,369,882 Brock Feb. 20, 1945 2,438,503 Holt Mar. 30, 1948 2,585,011 Johnson Feb. 12, 1952 2,585,012 Johnson Feb. 12, 1952 2,615,773 Holt Oct. 28, 1952 

